Scott Parker - one of the finest players in the Premiership - - The official of Gavin Peacock

Scott Parker - one of the finest players in the Premiership - 21/01/2004

A class act

In my opinion Scott Parker is an exceptionally talented player who’s set for an outstanding career. This will include England appearances and I’m sure he’ll go on not just to represent his country, but to be respected as one of the countries best players. He can will the ball, he has great pace, he creates opportunities and if his goal scoring is not particularly impressive – expect to see this aspect of his game improve.

I played with Scott during my time at Charlton so I’ve seen at first hand how good he is. But the secret’s out and Charlton now face a big battle to hang on to him now that Chelsea are in the hunt. Scott wants to play at the highest level and whereas Charlton, for this season at least, can’t offer him Champions League football – Chelsea can! I can understand Scott wanting to join the Blues, and I can understand Charlton wanting to hang on to their prize asset.

I’m sure Chelsea would play with a middle three of Lampard, Makele, and Parker. Scott knows this – so the argument that he’ll become just another one of the Chelsea players waiting for their turn in the squad rotation system simply doesn’t run true. He’d add another dimension to Chelsea’s game - and take them to the level of Arsenal and Man United when it comes to playing on the break. Chelsea struggle when teams put men behind the ball, and Scott is the type of box to box player who has the quality to break through a massed defence.

The Saha sage just goes to prove that no matter how determined a club may be to keep a player, if there’s a will..there’s a way. Chelsea have Carlton Cole on loan at The Valley and he could play a role in making up part of a transfer fee. For Charlton though, they’ll desperately want to keep hold of him. If they can finish in the top four and play in next season’s Champions League, it’ll be a mammoth achievement, but without Scott, I can’t help but feel it’ll be too tough a task.